ColoHunter, As a matter of idle curiosity, how much does that rifle weigh? You may start designing lighter rifles in your mind by the end of the first day of packing that up and down a few ridges.

Larryjk,

It wieghs right at 13 pounds loaded. :eek: My typical day of elk hunting is hiking anywhere from 8 to 14 miles with that rifle. I also use my Eberlestock backpack which my rifle fits in as it sits (including the bipods). I do fill it more in my knees these days.

I have always hunted with heavy rifles. My 22-250 I use coyote hunting is also right around 13 pounds.

I would probably use my Rem 700 in 280 with Nosler 160's. This has been pretty deadly on some big game around here.

A .338 win mag is what I use.Shots can get long, and angles can get bad. And elk don't always fall down with a good hit, even if there dead and don't know it. You should continue to shoot if you know the animal is hit. And thats when you need something that will shoot through a elk the long way.It kicks a bit, but if you can learn to shoot it it won't let you down.

ColoHunter, Had to give you a little hard time on the rifle weight. I have run the hills and decided even a rifle weighing around 9 lbs. is as much as a 71 year old wants to pack. Used to hunt around Kremmling and southwest of Saquache. Those hills can get a little steep. Most of my shots were inside 200 yds. and my .338 Win did a fine job. Never needed a second shot.

Larryjk,

I don't mind a little funnin.:) There are some people around me that think I and my brother are crazy for packing these types of rifles during our hunts. We tend to hunt some pretty open country and sometimes there are those long shots. Everything, so far, has died to the 7 mm Ultra Mag. Although my biggest bull I did put several shots in before he fell over.

Quinton

I would have to say rem model 700 in 270 i have never hunted elk but have deer and bear.
I am a fan of the 270 and the 3006 and 308 they have been doing it for years and most likely for years to come.
I do like big bullits for big animals so i like to go heavy when hunting anything biger then a whitetail

My old mauser 30-06 with 180 gr. ProHunters.:)

hnter, Glad to see a couple of cowboys agree on what is best in Grizland.

what's your elk gun?
 

I always used a 30-06 with 150 grain Barnes bullets. But, I won a Tikka in 300 WSM and used it this year. I shot a cow at about 250 yards. Hit her through both lungs. She went about 100 yards. I was shooting a Barnes TSX, 165 grain. The bullet went right through her.